Gig-saddle.



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r u. .Z7 0. w U .w w a M /M// N m j UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS lV'. HART, OF MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE.

GIG-SADDLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of VLetters Patent No. 650,243, dated May 22, 1900.

Application filed April 1 8, 1 8 9 9.

To all whom, t may concern:

Beit known that LTHOMAS W. IIART,a ci tizen of the United States, residing at Memphis, in the county of Shelby and State of Tennessee, have invented certain new and useful Im'- provements in Gig-Saddles; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, sueltas will enable others skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the same.

My invention, as will be hereinafter fully described and claimed, relates to certain new and useful improvements in harness, and more particularly to what is termed a gigsaddle; and the object of myinvention is. to provide a flexibility for the upper portion of the back-band, which will enable the upper part of the harness to always snugly conform to the shape of the animal whether the animal be plump and round or in an emaciated condition. By providing a iiexibility for this portion of the harness instead of making such part rigid, as is usual, the padded side of the gig-saddle will rest upon the back of the animal instead of permitting the weight to rest upon the backbone of the animal, and thereby causing an abrasion and a resultant sore.

The details of my invention will be illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a perspective View of my improved gig-*saddle complete covered in the usual manner with leather and supplied with the usual cushions or pads upon its under side. Fig. 2 is a perspective detail showing the several parts forming the interior portion of my gig-saddle separated from each other. Fig. 3 is a transverse section of the parts shown in Fig. 2 after they have been assembled in their respective operative positions.

Referring to the several parts of my invention and their cooperating accessories by designating-numerals, 1 and 2 are plates forming the body-section of my gig-saddle, which are hinged together at their inner ends by means of the curved terminals 3, said terminals being so adjusted with respect to each other that they will preferably interlace with each other and when brought in true alinement are held in such position by inserting the stem 4 through the curved terminals 3.

Serial No. 713,475. (No model.)

The stem 4 is provided at its forward end with the usual or other preferred form of vwater-hook 5, while its rear end is provided .with the threaded terminal 6, adapted to be received by the threaded socket 7, formed jupon or carried by the eyelet 8, which is designed to provide means for connectingthe forward end of the back-strap to the gig-saddle.

In order to hold the outer ends of the plates 1 and 2 disposed normally upward, I pro- Vide the spring-support 9, which is preferably held in position by passing it through a suitable slot l0, formed in the stem 4, it being understood that by this arrangement the free ends of said spring are brought into close contact with the under side of the plates l and 2, thereby tending to elevate the outer ends of said plates, though permitting the gig-saddle to readily conform to the back of the animal.

It will be understood that when the several parts justdescribed are assembled in their respective operative positions they may be covered and thereby hidden from View by leather or otherwise and that when so covered holes may be provided in said outer covering coinciding in position with the threaded apertures 11, which are designed to receive the threaded stems of the terret-rings 12, usually employed upon gig-saddles for the reception of the driving-reins. Y

Suitable cushions or pads 13 and 14 may be secured in the usual way upon the under side of the covering employed to house the plates l and 2, and owing to the hinged connection between said plates they will permit the pads 13 and 14 to readily conform to the back of the animal, and thereby prevent the weight thereof from resting mainly upon one point and thereby injuring the animal.

By the arrangement I have herein illustrated and described it will be clear that my gig-saddle when thus provided with the interior parts will have the capacity to readily yield or conform to the shape of the back of the animal and will therefore adjust itself so as to result in no injury, inasmuch as the weight will be evenly distributed and will not rest with undue severity upon one point, as would be the case if the saddle were rigid. If, for instance, the saddle were rigid, the backbone of the animal, if poor and emaciated,

efisv would extend upward in contact with the vmiddle portion of the saddle and would thus re ceive the entire Weight thereof. Y It will be seen that the several interior parts of my improved saddlemay be very cheaply made and that said parts may be covered in the usual manner and the complete saddle produced ready for use at no greater cost than for saddles as now ordinarily constructed.

Believing that the advantages and construction of my improved gig-saddle will be fully apparent from the foregoing specifica.-

tion, I deem further reference to the details thereof unnecessary. What'I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-e l.V 'The herein-described gig-saddle consistling of bodysections or'members'; suitable means to pivotally secure said parts `together; n a Water-hook having a stem extending into` coperative relationship with said hinged portion and provided with a securing-socket hav Y ingan' eylet-ring, and a spring-support -carl ried by said stem and so disposed that the freel Y endsthereof will bear upon the under side of each of said body-sections, as 'specified and for the purpose set forth. Y f

Asanimprovement in gigsaddles5a'l pair of plates constitu-ting the `body of the saddle in combination with a water-hook designed 'to pivotally hold said parts together and having a slot near its central portion, a spring passing through saidgslotand so disposed that the free ends thereof will bear against the under side of said'plates and a socket having a loop adapted to t the rear end of said Water-hook and thereby hold the same in its opferative position, all combined as set forth.

3. As' an improvement in gi ,saddles,a pair of plates constituting the body of the saddle l anda water-hook adapted tofpivotally secure' Jsaid plates together, said hook having a slot 

